Jul 18, 2012

Mako shark surprises diver on Bahamas expedition (video)

Jim Abernethy, on a recent Guy Harvey expedition to the Bahamas, thought it'd be a good idea to jump overboard to film a hooked blue marlin from underwater.

Little did he know a large mako shark, perhaps attracted by the struggling marlin, was lurking nearby and about to give him the thrill -- or scare? -- of a lifetime.

The accompanying video, uploaded Wednesday by Harvey, shows the shark after it had sped past Abernethy, from behind, and into the camera's view. After that comes lots of bubbles and Abernethy's vivid reaction.

The group was at Cat Island on a tagging expedition involving oceanic whitetip sharks. Harvey, a famous marine artist, had hooked a blue marlin, so Abernethy decided to jump in with his camera.

The scene looked so peaceful until the mako shark, estimated to measure 10 feet and weigh 600 pounds, came in to investigate.